The father of Sandy Hook victim Emilie Parker broke down in tears on Thursday night as friends, relatives and strangers paid tribute to his blonde-haired, blue-eyed daughter in his Utah hometown.

Robbie Parker held a public memorial for his six-year-old daughter at Ben Lomond High School in Ogden, sensing the community wished to give the grieving father and his family their support.

Hundreds of mourners filled the school, with girls wearing pink tops and men in pink ties in a nod to Emilie's favourite colour. Others wore green, the colour uniting those mourning for Sandy Hook.

But one person was notably missing: Friends said Emilie's mother Alissa was still too fragile to appear in public and chose to forego the service to spend time with her two other daughters.

Struggle: Robbie Parker puts his head in his hands after speaking about his daughter at a memorial service

Heartbreak: Robbie sheds a tear at the memorial for his daughter at her memorial service in Ogden, Utah

Just six days earlier, Robbie and Alissa were pictured leaving Sandy Hook Elementary School - Alissa's face creased in pain, Robbie's mouth open in disbelief - after learning that their eldest daughter had been shot dead along with 19 other students and six teachers.

They have now returned with her body to Ogden and a funeral will take place on Saturday. The couple were high school sweethearts in the Utah town before moving to Newtown, Connecticut.

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Robbie Parker struggled to control his emotions throughout the memorial service, where a slideshow of Emilie's life was shown and relatives spoke about the young girl, theSalt Lake Tribune reported.

'Even though this was a very personal and internal thing for us, I could see it touched everybody,' Robbie told the crowd. 'All of us feel connected to children.'

Loss: Emilie Parker, left and right with her father, lost her life at Sandy Hook Elementary School last week

Happier times: Emilie, right, smiles alongside her parents, Robbie and Allissa, and her two little sisters. Her mother did not attend the memorial as she is still too fragile, friends said

Relatives recalled a girl full of love, compassion, charity and enthusiasm. Her father said she loved to pick flowers - 'like a goat'. He finally told her to limit the picking to dandelions.

'Emilie always wanted to help people feel better,' the family said in an obituary. 'Her compassion and
charity was exemplified with her hugs, the cards she would make, and her
statement that, "I wish everybody could just be happy".'

Robbie said he was overwhelmed with support from the town and the crowd - many of whom were strangers. He explained how he took one of his daughters on a drive to see pink ribbons in the town.

A father's love: Mr Parker spoke about his daughter's love for her family and her positive, caring attitude

Thankful: He kisses the forehead of a mourner during the memorial vigil at Ben Lomond High School

A community in mourning: Relatives and friends look on during the memorial service on Thursday

'I pulled over to show her this one spot
that I thought was really pretty,' he said. 'I closed my eyes and I
thought about how many people it took to do that. I thought about
each hand tying each ribbon.'

Ogden Mayor Mike Caldwell added to the
family: 'We want to give you the nicest, safest space to put her to
rest, and for you to return and know this love here will not die.'

After the speeches, the crowd crowd
moved outside to the football field to light and launch lanterns in
remembrance of each Sandy Hook victim as 'Amazing Grace' wailed on
bagpipes.

Robbie Parker launched Emilie’s
lantern, which was pink one, and spoke in Portuguese, which he had been
teaching his daughter. 'I love you and you’ll always be with us,' he
said.

Sadness: Family members, left, break down at the service while Mr Parker, right, hugs a mourner

Remembered: Pink ribbons line the fences of Ben Lomond High School in Ogden in memorial of Emilie

A day after his daughter was killed, Robbie Parker, a 30-year-old physician’s assistant, addressed the media to offer his forgiveness to the family of the gunman.

'I'd like to offer our deepest
condolences to all the families who were directly affected. It’s a
horrific tragedy, and our hearts go out to them,' he said, choking back
his tears. 'This includes the family of the shooter, and I want you to
know that our love and support go out to you as well.'

He
went on: 'My daughter Emilie would be one of the first ones giving her
love and support to all of the victims, because that’s the kind of
person she is.

Remembrance: Robbie prepares to release a pink lantern in memory of his daughter during the vigil

Prayers: Lit lanterns float in the night sky above Ogden as mourners release more during the vigil

'As the deep pain begins to settle in our hearts, we find comfort in the incredible person Emilie was and how many people she was able to touch in her short time on Earth.'

He also spoke of Emilie's incredible artistic talent, and how she could often be found carrying crayons, markers, and paper to make colorful cards for those having a dark day.

He continued: 'Emilie’s laughter was infectious, and everyone who met her would agree that the world was a better place because she was in it.'